Becky Gill - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

"If we want to help the child grow near God, we should,
with patience and courage.... Seek to go always closer to the vital nucleus of things. This
requires study and prayer. The child himself will be our teacher if we know how to observe him." ---Sofia Cavalletti

We believe that God and child have a unique relationship with one another particularly before the age of six and that the growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but directed by the Spirit of God within the child. Children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship. This place is called an atrium. The atrium is set up and introduced to all of our students Pre-K through 2nd Grade. Children ages 3-6 will be introduced to areas for Level 1 where the students 6-9 will be continuing Level 1 works and adding Level 2 works continued growth.

Level 1 and 2 Works
1. Practical Life: To learn skills for everyday living.
2. Kingdom of God: A mystery that Jesus loved to talk about with anyone who would listen.
3. Paschal Mystery: To think about the time in Jesus' life when he died and rose again.
4. Geography & Incarnation: To talk about when Jesus became a man.
5. Prayer Corner: The most important part of the atrium; where we will celebrate our time together in the atrium.
6. Altar: Where we will talk about the names of the things we see at mass.
7. Eucharistic Gestures: We will talk about some of the gestures we see at mass.
8. Baptism: To hear about what happens in the sacrament of Baptism.
9. Good Shepherd: Where we will hear Jesus speak to us about who he is.
10. Art Expression: Activities here can help us think AND pray further about what we have learned in the different parts of the atrium.